Tirado Takes the Title

IMS Meditteranean Championship

Punta Ala

The winner of 2003 IMS Mediterranean Championship was the Spanish yacht Caixa Galicia, a Grand Soleil 56R owned by Vicente TIRADO. The event has just concluded in Punta Ala, Italy under the auspices of Yacht Club Punta Ala.

Eight races were sailed in good conditions, but mainly in light to medium winds. The fleet of 28 yachts were split into two divisions - racer and cruiser/racer.

Caixa Galicia helmed by Roberto BERMUDEZ and the American Dee SMITH calling tactics won the series with the the results 2-2-2-1-1-1-1-3 while second place in general results was her sistership X-Sport helmed by Gabriele BENUSSI with tactician Giovanni CASSINARI on board. The two yachts sailed a match race throughout the series but especially in the 95 nautical mile long offshore race. This was sailed in very light winds that resulted in a DNF for all the other boats in the racer division.

Another match race went on with the two cruiser/racers Italtel (Grand Soleil 42R) and Wind (Rodman 42). Winner of the first prize in this category was Italtel owned by Antonio ORLANDI with Vasco VASCOTTO at the helm and Francesco BRUNI calling tactics, the 2003 IMS World Champion finishing in front of Marcello PARODI'S Wind which was being helmed for the regatta by Lorenzo BRESSANI and with Michele IVALDI on tactics.

King Juan Carlos of Spain took part in the event on board the Judel Vroljik 56 footer Bribon: finishing 5th overall.

The series consisted of 8 races: 6 windward- leeward races 8 miles long, 1 windward-leeward race 10 miles long and a 95 miles long offshore race on the course Punta Ala- Montecristo Island-Africa Rock-Cerboli Island-Punta Ala.